Skip to main content

Former charity director made trust CEO

Published on: 4 Mar 2022

The acting chief executive of a mental health trust has been given the job on a permanent basis. 

Graham Wareham had been interim chief executive of Surrey and Borders Partnership Foundation Trust since December last year, when Fiona Edwards was appointed chief executive designate of Frimley ICS’s integrated care board. He had been acting as chief executive since April 2021 when Ms Edwards was seconded to the ICS. 

On Twitter, Mr Fareham wrote: “I’m thrilled to be appointed chief executive of Surrey and Borders but I’m also very aware of the responsibility I carry and I’m passionate about the opportunity it brings to help lead a wonderful organisation to become truly excellent.

“I want us to change our approach to problems and adjust our thinking. A key part of that is to get better at putting the views and suggestions of people who use our services and carers at the centre of what we do.”

Mr Wareham joined the ttust as chief finance officer in 2015. He had spent the previous 12 years as chief financial officer for Leonard Cheshire Disability, a charity which provides support for disabled people. 

In a press release issued by the trust, Mr Wareham wrote: ”As part of the recruitment process, I was given the opportunity to outline my vision for the future of Surrey and Borders Partnership which I will be outlining to colleagues over the coming weeks.

“I feel that for us to go from a trust that is rated ‘good’ by the CQC to one that is rated ‘excellent’ is in reach, and much of what we need to do to reach that goal is simply about changing our approach to problems and slightly adjusting our thinking. It will lead to better clinical care, a happier workplace and fewer people finding our services difficult to access.”

The trust said his appointment followed a rigorous selection process in which candidates spoke with external and internal stakeholders.

Chair Dr Ian McPherson said: “As we move into the new era of integrated care systems, we require a CEO who can work collaboratively with system partners in all agencies, while advocating for improved support for the mental health of people in the communities we serve. The interview panel, the board and the council of governors have all given me confidence that Graham is that person and I look forward to watching him make his very clear vision a reality.”